The UAE has been ranked the happiest country in the Arab region and 21st globally in the 2026 World Happiness Report, reflecting strong performance across key quality-of-life indicators. Released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network using Gallup data, the report assessed 147 countries based on factors such as income, health, freedom, generosity, social support, and corruption levels.
Global ranking
The UAE scored 6.8 on the Happiness Index, placing it ahead of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, and Taiwan.
Globally, Finland retained its position as the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year. Iceland and Denmark followed in second and third place, while Costa Rica and Sweden were also among the top-ranked nations.
Key indicators
The UAE performed strongly across several sub-indices. It ranked fourth worldwide for freedom to make life choices and eighth in GDP per capita, reaching around $70,000.
The country also placed 19th in generosity, reflecting charitable contributions, and 30th in life expectancy.
Global trends
The report noted that happiness levels improved in 79 countries, while 41 recorded declines.
However, significant disparities remain. The gap between top-ranked Finland and lowest-ranked Afghanistan exceeds six points on a 10-point scale, highlighting ongoing global inequality in living standards.
The findings also point to declining happiness among young people in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. This trend contrasts with most other regions, where youth happiness levels have remained stable or improved over time.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
